A playoff spot assured, the rumour had the Detroit Red Wings resting some veteran players in their regular season finale.

But as he arrived at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Apr. 13, Ryan Sproul had no idea whether he'd be making his NHL debut that Sunday afternoon.

The former Soo Greyhounds defenceman, and Grand Rapids (Mich.) Griffins teammate Xavier Ouellet had flown to St. Louis from Charlotte, N.C., the previous night.

Their American Hockey League team, the Wings top affiliate, was preparing for a Sunday game with the Charlotte Checkers, the Carolina Hurricanes top affiliate.

But Sproul, a 21-year-old Mississauga native, and Ouellet were called up by the big team.

Showing up at the arena two hours prior to the afternoon start, Sproul saw his name posted among those in the lineup.

He was about to live the NHL experience.

“I was just trying to turn my nerves into energy,” recalled Sproul, who starred for the 2012-2013 Greyhounds, eventually being named the Canadian Hockey League's top defenceman.

With Danny DeKeyser and Niklas Kronwall held out in order to rest up for the playoffs, and with Jonathan Ericsson sidelined with an injured finger, Sproul played alongside Ouellet on the Wings third defensive pair.

Wearing jersey No. 48, Sproul, an outstanding skater with a lethal shot, didn't look out of place during a game that was broadcast nationally in the United States on NBC.

“I was pretty much pinching myself,” admitted Sproul, a six-foot-four, 205-pounder, who played three seasons for the Hounds. “This is my dream. This is where I want to be.”

He wound up playing a regular shift, while also spending time on the Wings power play.

“After a couple of shifts I relaxed,” Sproul recalled. “I felt like I fit right in. It was an amazing experience and the atmosphere in the building was great.”

His 18:25 of ice time wound up being fourth-highest on the team that day, as the Wings blanked the Blues 3-0.

He even had a good scoring chance.

Early in the first period, Tomas Tatar's shot on goal hit the backboards and deflected in front to Sproul, who was driving the net.

“I just missed the post,” Sproul said of his shot on Blues goalie Ryan Miller.

At their Mississauga home, Phil and Paulette Sproul were able to watch their son's NHL debut.

“My folks were pretty proud and excited,” he said.

And the taste of NHL hockey left the Wings third-round choice (55th overall) in 2011 wanting more.

“I realized 100% that this is where I want to be,” Sproul said.

He wound up flying with the team back to Detroit and practised with the Wings over the next three days.

As he was being sent back to Grand Rapids, Sproul was told by Wings head coach Mike Babcock that he'd played well.

He was also told to be ready in case the Wings ran into injury problems on defence in the playoffs.

Sproul's focus is now on helping Grand Rapids defend its Calder Cup championship.

The Griffins are in Abbotsford, B.C., for tonight's opener in the best-of-five series with the Abbotsford Heat.

In his first AHL season, Sproul scored 11 times and assisted on 21 others in 72 games, finishing second in scoring among Grand Rapids defencemen.

He was also named to the AHL's All-Rookie Team.

“That was a pretty-exciting honour,” said Sproul, who scored twice for the Griffins in his first game of the 2013-2014 season. “It was nice to get the recognition and it meant a lot to me.”

That's especially true, Sproul added, because he felt as if his rookie season had both ups and downs.

He spoke of how it took some time for him to get his all-round game together.

Sproul went through a stretch of 18 games without registering a single point.

“But it helped me learn,” he said. “Overall, it's been a good learning experience. I've learned a lot from the older guys and the coaches.”

The AHL is both faster and more physical than what Sproul experienced in the Ontario Hockey League.

The positional play is better, “but other than that, the style is the same as the OHL,” he said. “My whole game has improved.”

When you're a Major A player, the team does a lot for you.

Asked about life as a professional, Sproul spoke of how he's now responsible for himself.

He and winger Mitch Callahan began the season living with forwards Riley Sheahan and Luke Glendening, who were eventually called up by the Wings and remain there. Sproul, who says he loves living in Grand Rapids, and Callahan continue to room together.

While determined to enjoy a long playoff run with the Griffins, Sproul is also determined to do all he can to make next year's Red Wings.

“I'll have to have a good summer, get stronger and work on every part of my game,” he said. “I want to go to camp and show them what I've got.”